The Second Adam
I want to talk about the second Adam in the Bible today, but I really should tell you a little about the first Adam, first. It begins with God. Genesis 1:1 says In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Then Genesis 1:26-28 states: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The First Sacrifice
After Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they were kicked out of the garden of Eden. An innocent animal was sacrificed to provide clothing for Adam and Eve. This sacrifice pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sin. But even after they sinned, God still made a promise to Adam and Eve. He told them that their descendant would bruise Satan’s head and that Satan would bruise His heal (Genesis 3:15). God allowed evil men to be used by Satan to cause Jesus to be crucified.
Nothing happened without God’s sovereign will. God allowed Satan to enter into Judas. God allowed the Jewish religious leaders to hand Jesus over to Pilate because they didn’t have the authority to put someone to death. The Father God allowed Pilate to be persuaded by the crowd to release Barabbas and to crucify Jesus. God allowed all of that.
He allowed Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for guilty sinners like us. Jesus suffered, bled and died for the sins of the world. He was buried and rose from the grave three days later. That’s how Jesus bruised Satan’s head. Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. What Satan intended for evil, God used for good and that’s why we preach the Good News to you. You can be saved. Your sins can be forgiven. If you repent and trust Christ.
Earthy and Heavenly
The first Adam sinned and the “second Adam” is the only Savior of mankind. The first Adam came from the dust. He was fleshly or natural. The second Adam came from Heaven and He was spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:39-57: All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We Are Just Like Our Original Ancestors
Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and each and every one of us have sinned after them. We are just like our original ancestors. We have all rebelled against Almighty God. But even with our rebellion, God sent His only Son to be the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins. Jesus, the second Adam, did what none of us can do. He never sinned one time. Yet He willingly gave up His life to be an atonement for sinners like you and me. He satisfied God’s wrath over sinful people when He hung on the cruel cross. Jesus rose from the grave and He now sits at the right hand of God the Father.
God’s anger was either satisfied for you through the suffering of Christ or God’s anger still abides upon you. The only way your guilt can be removed and your sins be forgiven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. You must receive the Gospel. You must repent and put your trust in Christ Jesus or you will die in your sins and be separated from the love of God for all eternity. If you die as an unrepentant sinner, you will suffer God’s righteous anger forever.
You Don’t Have To End Up There
But you don’t have to end up there. You can be saved if you humble yourself, admit you are a sinner and surrender your life to Jesus. The apostle Paul tells us what the Gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
The Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, just like had been predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus was buried and rose again on the third day. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Receiving salvation is more than just knowing these facts. It’s believing in them. It is repenting and surrendering your life to Jesus – the one and only Savior. It is turning from your sins and turning to Jesus. Won’t you do this today? Wont you quit rebelling against God and believe on the Lord Jesus? Won’t you confess and forsake your sins? Won’t you repent and believe the Gospel?
This Could Be Your Last Day On Earth
Today is the day of salvation. Don’t put it off. This could be your last day on this earth. Tomorrow you may be suffering the torments of Hell. Or, you could repent and trust Jesus with all your heart and receive everlasting life. If you do this today and die tomorrow, you will spend eternity with Jesus.
It’s one or the other. Ignoring Jesus’ plea through me today will mean the other. It will mean eternal damnation instead of eternal life. Don’t die in your sins and go to Hell. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). Jesus spoke these words. Don’t die in your sins. Don’t die in your unbelief and suffer the flames of Hell for all eternity.
Come to Jesus. Come to Him today. The second Adam is Spiritual. The second Adam is Life. Come to the way, the truth and the life. Repent and put your faith in Jesus. Believe in Him with saving faith. Be saved. Be saved today. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on February 10, 2017)